The decision by the Minister for Agriculture & the Marine Simon Coveney to introduce a permit system for non –EU fishermen to work legally in Ireland has been warmly welcomed by Independent MEP Marian Harkin

She said:- “Recently in the European Parliament I called for measures to protect the rights of migrant fishermen in Ireland and the EU and Minister Coveney deserves great credit for the speed in which he acted to prevent the exploitation of trafficked workers where that problem exists.

“It is to be hoped that other EU countries will quickly follow the Irish action and put a stop to any abuse of migrant fishermen and the unacceptable trafficking involved, Marian Harkin concluded.